THE LIQUOR LAWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 282, 17 August 1918, Page 3

THE LIQUOR LAWS

ALLEGED BREACHES LICENSEE AND BARMAN CHARGED The licensee of the Gresham Hotel, Patrick Joseph Griffin, and a barman named Albert Brown, were proceeded against before Sir. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, on information of having supplied liquor after the hour of closing, on July 24, to persons who had no right to be on the premises. Inspector Marsack prosecuted, and Mr. J. J. M'Grath appeared for the defendants. Corporal A. Magnire, of the New Zealand Military Police, stated that on July 24, in company with Sergeant Mntheson, of the civil police, he visited the Gresham Hotel about 9 p.m. Hβ saw the defendant Brown carrying a tray witn some iiquor glasses. On a slide in front of a bar upstairs were four empty glasses in front of four men. When witness and the police sergeant entered the room the four men "bolted upstairs. Two soldiers were found at the top of the landing. The sergeant asked Brown if ho had served certain of the men, and defendant replied in the affirmative. He said he had supplied them under the impression that they were boarders. Corroborative evidenco was given by Sergeant Matheson, and Constable Dudding- . , It was stated thnt when approached on the macter the .licensee said he took care to see that only boarders were served with liquor after hours, and that had ho known that the mea in question were in the house he would not have allowed them to be served. Mr. M'Gratli submitted that the two informations should be dismissed on the ground that the evidence was too slight to prove that the licensee was aware that an offence was bding committed. Inspector Marsack contended thnt although the hotel was well conducted, and the. licensee would not knowingly be a party to a breach of the still he was responsible for the act of his servant. In the course of evidence, Brown said that when the police came in he was carrying some liquor into the rjommercial room to some boarders. He would not eerve anybody who was not a boarder for Kliat would entail his dismissal, and/he was positive that he did not hand liquor to anybody who was not staying at the hotel. On the night in question there were a number of publicans from all over the Dominion staying at the hotel, and it was to some of them that ho was taking the drinks. ' . The licensee stated that he had instructed the barman not to serve anyone but boarders after hours. _ _ His'Worehip reserved his decision until to-day.